Motorist was a master of his briefsThere are many urban myths as to how drivers can beat breathalysers, but it is unlikely that underpants have ever featured before.

Then came a news story from Canada under the eye-catching headline, 'Man eats underwear to beat breathalyser'.

While sitting in the back of a police car, the driver ripped the crotch out of his underpants and began to eat it, apparently in the hope that the cotton fabric would absorb the alcohol.

Spectators at the gusset-muncher's trial had to be removed because they were struggling to maintain their composure.

'People were leaving the courtroom with tears in their eyes, trying not to laugh,' a policeman reported.

The driver was under the limit, but it was not clear whether that was down to his smalls - and let's pray they were clean - being big enough for the job.

But it could be one of the few recorded instances of a defendant being acquitted despite the court acknowledging that his case was absolute pants.